Reading Comprehension of Different Genres: A Fuzzy Approach

Amir Hossein Shahballa, Farshad Alamdar Youli

Abstract

This study presents a model based on fuzzy logic with two inputs: idea units and main ideas. The inputs were gained by scoring reading comprehension of 19 MA students at Shiraz University who were each given three different genres. The data were fed into the fuzzy system and fuzzy scores were obtained as the output. First, the same participants’ understandings across different genres and then, different participants’ understandings across the same genre were compared. And finally, the number of idea units referred to by participants was calculated to see which idea units were problematic. The results of comparing fuzzy scores and scores resulting from idea units indicated that fuzzy scores were fairer, and more accurate. The results of paired t-test showed that the narrative genre was easier than the descriptive and argumentative genres. Also, the results showed that the same participants had different degrees of understanding across genres and different participants had different degrees of understanding in the same genre.

To make sure that you can receive messages from us, please add the 'ccsenet.org' domain to your e-mail 'safe list'. If you do not receive e-mail in your 'inbox', check your 'bulk mail' or 'junk mail' folders.